What Opla Energy does

Opla Energy Ltd. is a Calgary-based private company founded in 2019 that develops and deploys automated Managed Pressure Drilling (MPD) technology for oil and gas drilling operators and contractors. The company combines proprietary hardware with an integrated software stack: the MPDSmart™ Manifold (automated manifold with dual electric chokes and a real-time Coriolis flowmeter), the Opla 3K eRCD (Electric Rotating Control Device), and a Pressure Management Device (PMD). These are paired with a software suite comprising MPDSmart™ (real-time wellbore pressure profiling and automatic choke control), PMDSmart™ (the only fully automated, engineered, and unmanned MPD software with Automode for autonomous choke operation), OplaSim™ (cloud simulation for designing and optimizing MPD operations), OplaCloud™ (an IoT cloud platform built on Apache Kafka, Cassandra, and streaming event processing), and OplaSmart™ (autonomous drilling optimization using machine learning and digital twin engineering).

The company operates from offices in Calgary (headquarters), Houston, and Odessa (Permian Basin), with all operations remote-capable since inception. Its business model spans hardware sales (manifolds, eRCDs, PMDs), software integrated with that hardware, and recurring engineering services delivered through the 24/7 Real-Time Operations Centre (RTOC), which provides pre-job planning, hydraulic modeling, real-time monitoring, and end-of-well reporting. Go-to-market is enterprise field sales with quote-based engagement; Opla holds API, ISO 9001, COR, APEGA Permit to Practice, and Q1 certifications required for vendor qualification with major operators.

Opla's machine-learning capabilities are anchored in OplaML, an Artificial Neural Network regressor trained on cloud data that predicts pressure profiles and downhole events before they occur, and a digital twin framework that improves as new wells are drilled. Multiple patent-pending inventions cover non-linear choke algorithms, real-time mud rheology measurement, eRCD internal support structures, and MPD techniques including Monobore Performance Drilling, Managed Pressure Cementing, Managed Pressure Flow Drilling, Constant Bottomhole Pressure, and Managed Pressure Tipping. Five product trademarks are registered. Customers are vertically concentrated in oil and gas drilling, with no customer logos disclosed; the company addresses narrow pore pressure windows, non-productive time, well control safety, and ESG performance during well construction.

Name

Opla Energy

Legal name

Opla Energy Ltd.

Website

https://oplaenergy.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Opla Energy develops automated Managed Pressure Drilling hardware and software for oil and gas operators and contractors. Headquartered in Calgary with operations in Houston and Odessa, the company integrates IoT-enabled real-time monitoring, machine learning, and 24/7 RTOC engineering support into MPD workflows.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Managed Pressure Drilling (MPD) Equipment & Software

NAICS

Oil and Gas Field Machinery and Equipment Manufacturing (333132), Mining and Oil and Gas Field Machinery Manufacturing (33313)

SIC

Oil & Gas Field Machinery & Equipment (3533), Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823)

akta.pro primary industry

Remote Operations, Control Room & Digital O&M (Monitoring, Diagnostics) (EUAEAGAM)

akta.pro secondary industry

Instrumentation, Controls & Automation (DCS/PLC/SCADA, SIS, Metering) (EUAEAFAC)

Keywords

• Managed pressure drilling
• Drilling automation software
• Rotating control devices
• Pressure management drilling
• Oil and gas drilling technology

Headquarters

HQ city

Calgary

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. MPD Hardware Systems: Sale and deployment of MPDSmart automated manifolds, electric chokes, and MPDSmart Manifold systems for onshore and offshore drilling operations.
2. eRCD Hardware: Sale of Opla 3K eRCD (Electric Rotating Control Device) with single or dual element designs, available in various pressure ratings.
3. Software Licenses and Subscriptions: MPDSmart, PMDSmart, OplaSim, OplaCloud, and OplaSmart software platforms provided as integrated solutions with hardware, with cloud connectivity and real-time monitoring capabilities.
4. Engineering Services and RTOC Support: 24/7 real-time engineering support, pre-job planning, hydraulic modeling, drilling program development, and end-of-well reporting. Cloud-based remote engineering support reducing field technician requirements.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Opla Energy provides managed pressure drilling (MPD) solutions that combine proprietary hardware—including automated manifolds, electric rotating control devices (eRCD), and pressure management devices—with integrated software platforms (MPDSmart, PMDSmart, OplaSim, OplaCloud, OplaSmart) powered by IoT cloud, machine learning, and digital twin engineering. The company also operates a 24/7 Real-Time Operating Centre (RTOC) delivering remote engineering support to optimize drilling performance, reduce non-productive time, and improve ESG outcomes for operators.

Product overview

Opla Energy offers an integrated platform-plus-modules architecture for Managed Pressure Drilling (MPD) technology. The core portfolio centers on MPDSmart™ and PMDSmart™ software platforms for real-time wellbore monitoring and automated pressure control, complemented by OplaSim™ for simulation and OplaCloud™ for cloud infrastructure. OplaSmart™ serves as the autonomous drilling optimization layer with AI/ML capabilities. Hardware offerings include the MPDSmart™ Manifold with electric chokes and flow monitoring, the eRCD™ (Electric Rotating Control Device), and the PMD (Pressure Management Device). The company provides 24/7 engineering support through its Real-Time Operating Centre (RTOC). All products interconnect through the OplaCloud platform, enabling data streaming, remote monitoring, and machine learning analytics across the drilling operation lifecycle.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• MPDSmart™: Fully automated MPD software integrated with Opla's automated manifolds, providing real-time wellbore pressure profiles and electric choke control.
• PMDSmart™
• OplaSim™
• OplaCloud™
• OplaSmart™
• MPDSmart™ Manifold
• eRCD™

Products and services

• MPDSmart (software) Pressure-control software platform with a patent-pending non-linear closed-loop choke controller for managing bottomhole pressure during managed pressure drilling operations; used by drilling operators to automate pressure response and reduce manual intervention.
• PMDSmart (software) Pressure monitoring and control software platform providing real-time pressure data, alarms and analytics for managed pressure drilling; used by drilling engineers and operators to monitor and optimize well-pressure performance.
• OplaSim (software) Digital-twin engineering simulator for drilling operations, enabling modeling and pre-planning of managed-pressure drilling scenarios and well control; used by drilling engineers during planning and during real-time RTOC operations.
• OplaCloud (software / platform) IoT cloud platform for remote monitoring, data aggregation and analytics of MPD equipment and wells; enables operators to access telemetry and dashboards globally and supports the RTOC service model.
• OplaSmart (software) Integrated operations software platform for Opla Energy's MPD offering, providing unified access to drilling-pressure data, equipment status and engineering support workflows; used by drilling operators and the Opla RTOC team.
• MPDSmart Manifold (hardware) Automated managed-pressure-drilling manifold with integrated sensors and electric chokes for closed-loop bottomhole-pressure control; deployed at the rigsite and tightly integrated with the MPDSmart software platform.
• eRCD (electric Rotating Control Device) and pressure control equipment Electric rotating control device (and supporting pressure-control equipment) for sealed drilling sections, enabling closed-loop pressure control and reduced HSE exposure of rig personnel; supplied to drilling operators for use with Opla Energy's MPD solution.
• Pressure Management Device (PMD) Pressure-management device for drilling operations, used as part of Opla Energy's MPD hardware package to regulate downhole pressure; deployed alongside the MPDSmart manifold and eRCD equipment on active wells.
• Real-Time Operating Centre (RTOC) and Engineering Services 24/7 remote engineering and pressure-monitoring service delivered from Opla Energy's Real-Time Operating Centre, providing drilling engineers and operators with continuous pressure-control oversight, alarms, engineering analysis and remote intervention across global wells.

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability7 records

Feature11 records

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Halliburton: Halliburton is one of the world's largest oilfield services companies and offers managed pressure drilling solutions (e.g., GeoBalance) alongside a full portfolio of drilling, completions, and production services. It directly competes with Opla in MPD while also being able to bundle MPD with broader rig services.
• SLB (Schlumberger): SLB is the largest global oilfield services provider with deep MPD and pressure management capabilities through its Drilling & Evaluation segment, along with integrated hardware, software, and services. It overlaps directly with Opla's MPD offerings while serving a vastly larger global customer base.
• Weatherford International: Weatherford is a major oilfield services and equipment provider with an established managed pressure drilling product line and rotating control device portfolio. It competes head-to-head with Opla on MPD hardware (chokes, manifolds, eRCDs) and pressure control software for both onshore and offshore applications.
• NOV (National Oilwell Varco): NOV is a leading manufacturer of drilling equipment, including pressure control equipment, rotating control devices, and drilling automation tools. It competes with Opla on the hardware side of MPD (eRCD, choke manifolds) and serves the same drilling contractor and operator customers.
• Archer Limited: Archer is an oilfield services company providing drilling, well services, and pressure control solutions to upstream operators. Its pressure control offerings compete with Opla's MPD services and rotating control devices, particularly in mature North Sea and North American markets.

Direct peers

• Blade Energy Partners: Blade Energy Partners is a specialized engineering and MPD services company focused exclusively on managed pressure and underbalanced drilling. As a niche competitor with similar product specialization and engineering-led GTM, it is one of the most direct comparable peers to Opla.
• Enhanced Drilling: Enhanced Drilling is a focused MPD and wellbore stability technology provider serving offshore and onshore operators globally. Its product portfolio overlaps with Opla's MPD manifold, eRCD, and pressure control offerings for narrow-margin drilling applications.

Emerging players

• Coretrax: Coretrax is a specialist wellbore clean-up and integrity services provider with expanding capabilities in zonal isolation and MPD-adjacent technologies. As a smaller, technology-focused peer serving similar drilling customers, it represents an emerging competitive threat in overlapping service categories.
• Proserv: Proserv is an energy services company specializing in subsea controls, drilling controls, and wellhead equipment. Its drilling controls and pressure management offerings overlap with Opla's eRCD and choke manifold product lines, particularly in offshore applications.

Regional players

• Stena Drilling: Stena Drilling is a global offshore drilling contractor that operates rigs and partners with MPD providers for advanced drilling operations. While primarily a drilling contractor rather than an MPD technology provider, it is a relevant peer as both a potential customer and a benchmark for offshore MPD application.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/oplaenergy
• Facebookfacebook.com/OplaEnergy

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Opla Energy